SNY to air 13 Stony Brook men's and women's basketball games this season
India Pagan of the Stony Brook women's basketball team during a practice on Nov. 4 at Island Federal Credit Union Arena. Credit: Dawn McCormick
The excitement about Stony Brook’s men’s and women’s basketball teams being picked to win the America East titles in preseason polls has grown palpable. On Monday the school and SNY announced a television deal to air a total of 13 Seawolves games this season.
The deal includes seven men’s basketball contests beginning with the Dec. 4 non-conference matchup with Wagner and six women’s basketball games starting with the Dec. 7 meeting against Marist.
One gem in the deal will be the men’s basketball battle for Long Island supremacy between the Seawolves and Hofstra on Dec. 8 at 7 p.m.
"It’s an exciting time for our basketball programs," Stony Brook Athletic Director Shawn Heilbron said. "We want to showcase our basketball programs but also the entire athletics program."
The agreement with SNY – already the main outlet to watch UConn women’s basketball – should improve the profile of the women’s basketball program around the area.
"We want people to know that if they come to Stony Brook people will be able to see them on television," Heilbron said. "People should want to be a part of the Seawolves. They will be seen."
The men’s basketball slate includes games against Hofstra on Dec. 11, Saint Peter’s, on Dec. 18, Hartford on Feb. 19 and Albany on Feb. 26.
The women’s basketball slate includes games against the University of Pennsylvania on Dec. 10, Binghamton on Dec. 10, Binghamton on Jan. 19, NJIT on Feb. 5, Maine on Feb. 12, UMBC on Feb. 16 and UMass-Lowell on Feb. 23.
"Yes, we have a digital platform for people to watch, but we like the idea that our game will be on traditional television on Long Island in restaurants and establishments where people will see our quality," Heilbrons said. "Recruits will know that if they come here, they will be on television."
Roger Rubin returned to Newsday in 2018 to write about high schools, colleges and baseball following 20 years at the Daily News. A Baseball Hall of Fame voter since 2011, he has covered 13 MLB postseasons and 14 NCAA Final Fours.
